Electric vehicle charging interface device

Abstract

An electric vehicle charging interface device is provided. The device includes a chassis having a top, a bottom, a front side, and a back side opposite the front side, the chassis configured to move between an uncompressed position and a compressed position relative to a longitudinal axis. The device further includes two electrodes extending from the front side of the chassis, and, a biasing portion configured to bias the chassis towards the uncompressed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electric vehicle charging interface device comprising:
 a chassis having a top, a bottom, a front side, and a back side opposite the front side, the chassis configured to move along a longitudinal axis between an uncompressed position and a compressed position; 
 two electrodes extending from the front side of the chassis in a direction away from the chassis, the two electrodes being laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis and positioned on opposed sides of the longitudinal axis; and, 
 a biasing portion configured to bias the chassis towards the uncompressed position. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis comprises: a U-shaped portion configured to pivot about the longitudinal axis, each of the two electrodes extending from a respective end of the U-shaped portion. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide portion having a front end and a back end, the chassis configured to slide along the guide portion between the front end and the back end, the chassis located proximal the front end of the guide portion in the uncompressed position and located away from the front end in the compressed position. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the chassis comprises: a U-shaped portion and a sliding portion, the sliding portion configured to mate with the guide portion and slide along the guide portion, the U-shaped portion on top of the sliding portion and pivotally connected thereto, each of the two electrodes extending from a respective end of the U-shaped portion. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the guide portion is configured for attachment to a floor, the bottom of the chassis is configured is configured to slide along the guide portion, and the two electrodes are configured to extend horizontally from the chassis, relative to the floor, when the guide portion is attached to the floor. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the biasing portion extends from the back side of the chassis towards the back end of the guide portion. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the biasing portion extends from the back side of the chassis towards the back end of the guide portion, and is further attached to each of the back side of the chassis and the back end of the guide portion. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the two electrodes are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis of the chassis. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each the two electrodes are configured to independently pivot relative to the chassis. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two electrodes forms an angle of about 15° with the front side of the chassis, each of the two electrodes angled towards each other. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two electrodes forms an angle in a range of about 0° to about 70° with the front side of the chassis, each of the two electrodes angled towards each other. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two electrodes comprises: a respective body; and a respective electrical connection portion extending from the respective body, the respective electrical connection portion configured to: mate with a corresponding electrode of a vehicle: and scrape against the corresponding electrode of the vehicle during a mating operation with the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein, during the mating operation, the chassis moves towards the compressed position, the biasing portion being compressed during the mating operation, the two electrodes being biased towards corresponding electrodes of the vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising electrical connectors configured to connect the two electrodes to an external power supply. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an interlock configured to detect when a vehicle has mated with the two electrodes. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the interlock extends from the front side of the chassis. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the interlock comprises one or more of a passive interlock, a magnetic interlock and an optical interlock. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the interlock is further configured to provide power from an external power supply to the two electrodes only when the vehicle has mated with the two electrodes. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the interlock is located between the two electrodes. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a docking target.